Top cats snap: Fur flies outside UK PM's home

Steve Back / Rex Features

British Prime Minister David Cameron's cat Larry and Chancellor George Osborne's cat Freya fight in Downing Street, London, on Tuesday.

LONDON - Downing Street, where the head of Britain's government resides right next door to the man who holds the nations' purse strings, has witnessed its fair share of spats over the years.

But the fur flew for real Tuesday when two cats from each official residence -- known colloquially as Number 10 and Number 11 -- traded paws in a brief bout of feline fury.

Larry, Prime Minister David Cameron's cat, was pictured taking a claw to the throat from Freya, Chancellor George Osborne's pet.

Witnesses said Larry quickly withdrew to the safety of his home, leaving Freya one-up in the cat-on-cat contest.

Read the story by NBC News' British partner ITV News

This is not the first time that Larry has let down the side since joining Downing Street from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, an animal shelter in southwest London, almost two years ago.  He was brought in on the reputed strength of his mousing skills to deal with at least one rat seen scurrying past the door of Number 10. (Click here to see Number 10's official version on Storify).

But his career got off to a rocky start, drawing blood from a TV reporter.

Click here for more stories about Larry the cat  

To compound this first PR faux pas, it took Larry months to nail his first rodent victim, the Guardian reported.

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Discuss this post

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and you just know some journalist was yelling......cat fight...cat fight...and a whole buncha guys come running...........

  • 17 votes
Reply#1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 6:45 AM EDT

The cats' names are great! Larry the cat. Cracks me up. Freya especially makes sense - she is the goddess of war.

  • 11 votes
#1.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:54 AM EDT

This is NBC's front page world news???

NBC should be seriously ashamed of its VERY EVIDENT TABLOID NEWS REPORTING

  • 6 votes
#1.2 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:20 AM EDT

Yay! Cat news! It's so much better than pedophiles and political lunacy!

  • 24 votes
#1.3 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:36 AM EDT

This is NBC's front page world news???

NBC should be seriously ashamed of its VERY EVIDENT TABLOID NEWS REPORTING

==========================

Oh, get a life........and a sense of humour!

  • 12 votes
#1.4 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:34 AM EDT

Slow news day?

  • 6 votes
#1.5 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:45 AM EDT
Reply

"Click here for more stories about Larry the cat" <-----Screw politics, I want to hear the latest on Larry the cat!!!

  • 30 votes
Reply#2 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 6:53 AM EDT

Sir Lawrence for felix's sake- he resides at 10 Downing Street. Freya tried to get on Sir Lawrence's whiskers- that female tabby to boot. It is always more preferable to read about the Animal Kingdom =there is no subterfuge-one doesn't like someone else- hisses and meows or grrs and arfs. Aside- 10 Downing Street had to call an exterminator- a livewire one.

  • 6 votes
Reply#3 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:04 AM EDT

More politicians with pussy problems.

  • 24 votes
Reply#4 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:55 AM EDT

ROFLMAO!!

  • 9 votes
#4.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:05 AM EDT
Reply

Never try to break up a cat fight.

  • 5 votes
Reply#5 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:10 AM EDT

I bet the neighbors LOVED hearing those two go at it. Wonder if the UK has any rules for roaming pets. Sure seems like they need them.

  • 4 votes
Reply#6 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:13 AM EDT

THIS made the home page of NBC? Sheesh....

  • 10 votes
Reply#7 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:26 AM EDT

lol smh

  • 4 votes
#7.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:35 AM EDT

Hey, it's a funny break from all the political propaganda, elections, people being murdered and trial updates on horrible crimes that made national news.

I'll put $10 down on Freya for the next round!

  • 5 votes
#7.2 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 12:38 PM EDT

State - I hear ya about needing a break from all that stuff, I totally agree. But honestly, i didn't think this was entertaining at all. I just thought it was incredibly stupid and pointless. It's possible to be entertaining and funny without being stupid. This wasn't entertaining OR funny and it was STILL stupid.

    #7.3 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 1:19 PM EDT

    Then maybe you'll want to skip reading the article next time ;)

    • 2 votes
    #7.4 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 1:36 PM EDT

    I didn't read the article. Who needed to? The headline said it all. ;)

      #7.5 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 3:12 PM EDT

      You should if you want a laugh. Kind of reminescent of a boxing match lol

      But since you prefer to comment on something you didn't read and waste your time in doing so, oh well.

      • 2 votes
      #7.6 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 3:39 PM EDT

      Really? I needed to read an entire article that started with a photo of two cats boxing before I had a right to comment on it? Not to mention a pretty clear headline and liner note? Silly me.

        #7.7 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:20 PM EDT
        Reply

        Are you kidding me? This story is listed in MSNBC's 'Top Stories' heading on my home page, how pathetic a news organization is this? MSNBC, you have lost the call of any journalistic creed and all credibility.

        • 7 votes
        Reply#8 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:39 AM EDT

        Its NBCnews now

        • 2 votes
        #8.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:41 AM EDT

        And again, I would rather read about cats than murders and ranting political BS.

        • 19 votes
        #8.2 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:37 AM EDT

        .

        • 2 votes
        #8.3 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:37 AM EDT

        Some people just live to b1tch and moan. Drink some more lemon juice.

        • 5 votes
        #8.4 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:37 AM EDT

        This is a website not a newspaper. If you dont like the story, dont read it. scroll down and click on another link. Stop complaining about fluff stories wasting your time when you took the time to read it and then comment.

        After weeks of politics, child kidnappings/ killings, children being cyber-stalked by pedophiles until they kill themselves, wars & civil unrest, I'm thankful for a light hearted story that makes you laugh for once....I didnt know that life had to be so serious all the time....

        • 5 votes
        #8.5 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:52 AM EDT

        Gabber and all the others that are complaining: If you don't like the title or the news DON'T READ IT MORONS! It is such a RELIEF from all the other damning news. Tex Guinan said: A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country. Personally, I prefer cats. They don't hold back any hits. They don't lie and they don't mess with you and try to take your money under pretense that they 'like' you. So all you complainers go to another article where all the b.s. is and ENJOY and leave these articles alone to give us much needed relief from the likes of you! :)

        • 3 votes
        #8.6 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:03 AM EDT

        gabber

        Are you kidding me? This story is listed in MSNBC's 'Top Stories' heading on my home page, how pathetic a news organization is this? MSNBC, you have lost the call of any journalistic creed and all credibility.

        Maybe that's why MS bailed out on NBC.

          #8.7 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 12:37 PM EDT
          Reply

          This is awesome news! I clicked on this right away. Thanks for sharing NBC.

          • 5 votes
          Reply#9 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:58 AM EDT
          Comment author avatarRas Mortyvia Facebook

          yayyyyy

          • 5 votes
          Reply#10 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:05 AM EDT

          They seriously need to get those poison collars off the cats. Studies have shown flea collars cause cancer.

          • 4 votes
          Reply#11 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:09 AM EDT

          could be regular collars.. we keep one on our cat when she goes outside

          • 3 votes
          #11.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:55 AM EDT
          Reply

          Coming from Battersea you'd of thought Larry would have been a bit tougher than that.

          Nice to see a bit of news that's in there just for a bit of fun.

          Thanks for lightening my day a bit Nbcnews.

          • 6 votes
          Reply#12 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:14 AM EDT

          This made the news????

          • 2 votes
          Reply#13 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:20 AM EDT

          Oh Yeah it made the news! I would rather look at these cats than say, Sandusky. Wouldn't you?

          • 10 votes
          Reply#14 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:40 AM EDT

          No doubt, a bit of levity in a dark world. Nothing wrong with that... That's the way Freya, show him who rules.

          • 8 votes
          Reply#15 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:46 AM EDT

          Slow mews news day.. huh

          • 9 votes
          Reply#16 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:54 AM EDT

          Let's see, George's pussy, Faeya, conquered David's pussy, Larry, so: George's pussy, is favored over David's pussy, in the next bout! I can see the connection to the American Political Re-Election Debates, coming in the next few weeks - can't you? So much for British humor? LOL, HA, HA! [:-)]

          • 2 votes
          Reply#17 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:59 AM EDT

          Maybe the cats were having a political debate?

          • 3 votes
          Reply#18 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:21 AM EDT

          catnip or human treats? that's what my cats have fought about!

            #18.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:58 PM EDT
            Reply

            LMFAO I love cats, maby the worlds biggest cat lover, I actually have a cat right now that I am rescuing and taking to the vet this afternoon.

            But really ... LMFAO

            Awesome. Nice news. F the Debates. These cats run this sh*t

            • 5 votes
            Reply#19 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:24 AM EDT

            Shame on both owners. Pets should not be let out unattended to get physically hurt or to annoy the neighbors!

            • 1 vote
            Reply#21 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:49 AM EDT

            Dude....they're cats. You are always going to have cats fight over territories. I would rather have cats annoy me with their territory fighting than have dogs out who do attack people when they feel threatened. Cats run from people, dogs don't most of the time.

            • 5 votes
            #21.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 12:43 PM EDT
            Reply

            Cats will be cats! ROFL

            • 1 vote
            Reply#22 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:52 AM EDT

            Hey Mr. Prime Minister, if you wanted a mouser, you should have adopted a female. In the cat family, females are often the more dedicated hunter.

            • 3 votes
            Reply#23 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:57 AM EDT

            Breaking mews from the UK.

            • 2 votes
            Reply#24 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:34 AM EDT

            words cannot express the stupidity of this article. it's the 9/11 of imbecilic reporting.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#25 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:35 AM EDT

            Lighten up. After reading about a murdered and dismembered 10-year old girl, this is a welcome change.

            • 4 votes
            #25.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:40 AM EDT
            Reply

            How the hell is this news worthy. This is why nbc news is a joke.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#26 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:55 AM EDT
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